Being October 17, Jeanne Murray, UNL Extension Educator and SHIIP volunteer will be available to help you compare plans and find the one that best meets your needs. For an appointment, call Carol at the Extension Office, 308-762-5616. Remember to bring your Medicare card, a list of your medications and the package of information from your 2011 (current) plan. December 7 is the last day to change or enroll in a plan. Don’t wait. There may not be any appointments left for that day!

Prescription drug plans are mailing the Annual Notice of Change for 2012, as well as, the other plans wanting your business. The number of plans in Nebraska has remained constant. The plans that are available for low income assistance or Medicaid with $0 premium have changed significantly. Your plan may be one of those affected. The Annual Notice will state your new premium. This is why it is very important that you schedule an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteer, an unbiased counselor, to compare plans in order to find the one that best fits your situation.

Lori Dannar, a SHIIP volunteer in Hemingford, will be taking limited appointments. Call her at 487-3393.